Hey folks,
I’ve got a question for the mechanics and more experienced riders here. I recently noticed a rattling sound coming from my rear wheel when riding over bumps, so I shot a quick video (linked below).
Here are the details:
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Cassette: Shimano Deore 11-speed 11–51
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Freehub: standard Shimano HG
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Lockring is torqued to 40 Nm (confirmed with a torque wrench)
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Shifting is buttery smooth across all gears
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It feels like the cassette’s inner diameter is ever so slightly larger than the HG body, which lets it rattle on rough ground.
Despite this, everything rides fine — but you can hear the cassette bouncing up and down in the video.
Question: Is this normal tolerance/play with HG cassettes, or does it suggest a hub or cassette issue that needs attention? Should I be worried about long-term wear or damage, or just ride it?
The Wheel Set is 2 months old
Thank you 🙏
Shimano Deore 11-speed cassette rattling despite being torqued to spec — normal or problem? (Video inside)
byu/MDST55 inbikewrench
by MDST55
5 Comments
Is the cassette lock ring torqued to 40Nm?
**HG Freehub Standards & Compatibility**
There are two main HG freehub types for cassettes:
1. **HG Mountain/Standard:** The original design, featuring a nine-spline pattern with one wider, keyed slot. It is compatible with 8, 9, 10, and 11-speed mountain cassettes. (35mm)
2. **HG 11/12 Speed Road:** A slightly longer (1.85mm wider) freehub body designed for 11-speed road and some 12-speed road and mountain bike cassettes. (36.85mm)
My guess, is you have the HG Spline L (HG11/12) freehub body, with an HG Spline M (Mountain/Standard) cassette (we know this because of your cassette). This means, you simply need a 1.85mm spacer behind that cassette. Should be able to get one for free at any shop on earth.
[https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-731](https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-731)
I would think that even if the inner diameter of the cog splines was slightly larger than the freehub body the compression on the cassette from the locknut would prevent things from rattling around. Are you sure the locknut is actually compressing the cassette and not just bottoming out against the freehub body?
What hub? I had this issue (with deore 12 speed, microspline cassette) on a low-ish end Shimano hub and brought it to a shop. Shop couldn’t figure it out, so they contacted Shimano. Shimano said “eh, sometimes there’s some play in the free hub on these OEM hubs.” Shop recommended I mount the wheel and see if the play is still there when everything is held together in the frame.
Couple months later, no further issues.
It’s a loose ball cup and cone hub. You need to adjust the hub.
The cassette tightens onto the hub. The cassette isn’t rattling the entire hub is. When mounted in the bike does the wheel move left and right when you wiggle it?
If the wheel wiggles when you move it side to side it’s a hub adjustment. If the cassette cogs are wiggling independently you need a spacer on the back.
A hub adjustment requires cone wrenches. A shop would charge like $20 to dial it in for you. If you need a spacer probably same price to remove cassette and add spacer and dial in shifting.